Iringa Reunions

Our first full day in Iringa brought many joyful reunions. 

Jenny and Peter Harrits are here in Iringa, and they joined us for dinner last night, along with Jenny's parents, Chris and Ron Buckley.  Pastor Eva Msigwa of Tungamalenga Parish was here at the Lutheran Center when our Land Cruiser rolled in, and she accompanied us for much of the afternoon today.  Dr. Barnabas Kahwage stopped by the Lutheran Center last evening just as we finished dinner.  We had a long conversation to catch up on family, clinic and village happenings.

Meritho Katei was a surprise visitor last evening and again this morning.  Two years ago, our traveler group gathered funds to send Meritho to driving school.  Then he got a job at a resort in Zanzibar; after a few months had a job driving for a Dar based marketing company.  Now he is back in Kitisi, a congregation within Tungamalenga Parish.  He works for a Wildlife Conservation Association, studying the behavior and comings and goings of large carnivores living near the game park. He was in Iringa town to repair the Land Cruiser used by the association. To all who remember him, his personality is as bubbly as ever.

We spent the morning with Dr. Barnabas Kahwage purchasing medicine and supplies for the Tungamalenga Dispensary.  Dr. Barnabas had prepared shopping lists in advance, had visited the pharmacy and other shops.  Today our task was to follow up at those shops, inventory the supplies to make sure the asked for supplied had been gathered, then pay the bill and deliver all items to the Lutheran Center where they will wait until our departure to the villages on Saturday.

We purchased medicines, a couple hundred mosquito nets, and a number of items that will help improve infectious disease control measures at the clinic: an autoclave, various medical waste containers, and other items for sterilizing instruments.

We met Rev. John Mhekwa for lunch at the Neema Craft Center.  He was helpfully offering us the use of his laptop and modem for communication during the time we will be in the villages. He and his wife Addy are doing well, his daughter Patricia is nearly three years old and ready for preschool. There may be additional family news in the coming months.

After lunch we crossed the alley way from Neema Craft to visit Consolata Sanga at her NGO office and craft shop. Neema was one of our scholarship students 12 years ago.  She went on to a successful career in tourism, and more recently formed an organization that places young volunteers in working/learning situations in country.  Look for her high quality craft items at our boutique next November.

In mid afternoon, we headed over to Huruma Center, the orphanage owned and operated by the diocese.  Mama Chilewa is the powerhouse who cares for the children ages 5-16 and who carefully stewards the resources available. Today was a national holiday, so schools were closed and children who live at the orphanage were able to visit their relatives, if they have them.  There were about 18 children still at the center today, children who have no relatives to visit.

Mama encourages the children who have relatives to visit them as they are able, "so they don't forget where they came from."

She reported that four of the students have succeeded in secondary school and are ready to go to college in the fall.  Tula is a bright girl who excels in the sciences.  She wants to be a doctor, and will be the second doctor from the Center when she graduates.  Salome, Bonea and Clemence have all done well in school and will be pursuing business, teaching, and administrative degrees.

Another success story was Veronica -- she has finished secondary school and completed a course from Sister Adolfina's cooking school.  Veronica is now working at Huruma Center, described by Mama as a "big sister" to the children.  Veronica serves as house mother for the dormitory of young girls, and helps in the kitchen.

What are some of the needs for the Center?

-Mama was only able to buy 75% of the Center's yearly store of rice; we will purchase 5 bags in Tungamalenga and Makifu Parishes to make up the difference.

-We noticed the dormitories are well equipped with fire extinguishers, but there are no smoke detectors.  We're going shopping tomorrow.

- Toys for toddlers are needed for the new daycare center, serving children in the neighborhood from the ages of 2-5. Mama described how the children wait for a turn with the big plastic dump trucks and cars, with the baby dolls with blinking eyes, and with the outdoor playground toys.

- Mama expressed her thanks for the funds SOTV sends to support education expenses for the students at elementary and secondary levels.  Even though the new Tanzanian president has declared that government schools will provide tuition free education, she noted there are still expenses for uniforms, supplies, and some fees. "What you are doing is giving them a future.  Here they can eat, they can sleep, we care for them.  But without an education they will have no future."

Finally, our group shared a meal and reflections on our day at the wonderful Italian restaurant, Mama Iringa's. Tomorrow, we receive an overview at the Iringa Diocese, will do some shopping for boutique sales items, visit Iringa University, and no doubt continue the amazing adventure.